Bloomingdale Cornet Band

	Bloomingdale Cornet Band
	*New Jersey's Oldest Continuously-Active Marching & Concert Band*

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	The Band was found by twelve men: Alfred Bedson, Thomas Bedson, Peter DeLazier, Samuel R. Donald, Thomas Donald, Martin Haycock, John Hosking, William H. Hoskin, Alfred C. Light, David Scott, Walter C. White, Jonas S. Woods. The Band made it's debut performance at the Decoration Day parade through Butler & Bloomingdale May 30, 1884.
	In the early days, the band performed at many types of events: parades, concerts, dinners, weddings, funerals, parties, civic functions, dances. This was normal for bands in the Victorian Era. With enough older members, the band continued to perform during both World Wars, cutting back on the number of performances as there were less events taking place.
	The band has had Twelve Directors over it's existence. Alfred Bedson, Thomas Bedson, Joseph Parks, Alfred C. Light & Fred G. Sloan were the first five and they each directed for one year. In January, 1889, Samuel R. Donald was elected Director, a position he held for fifty years. He was followed by Ed Donald, Richard Rodda (1946), Donald Rodda (1966), Bob Norman (1992), Jerry Bott (1998) and Roger Vreeland (2002) who is the present Director.
	The Band continues to perform and is general involved in about thirty parades and concerts each year in New Jersey and New York. If you have any stories about the band or other "old time" bands that once existed in New Jersey, if you have any band related memorabilia, or if you know of a band member that has moved away, please contact us or tell us about your memories. An extensive history of the band and it's members is being compiled.
		This page was last updated Aug 13, 2005